Flags are raised at the center of the Capitol grounds in Misamis Oriental. GSD File By Photo by Cong B. Corrales
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By NITZ ARANCON
and SHIELA MAE BUTLIG
Correspondents .

POLICE yesterday pressed charges against a capitol administrative aide who was allegedly caught using suspected shabu at the capitol compound on Thursday night.

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Senior Insp. Maricris Mulat, chief of the Cagayan de Oro Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU), said 48-year old Edgardo  Gabutan Cajardo of Binitinan, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, was charged with illegal possession of prohibited  drugs, illegal possession of drug paraphernalia, and drug use before the City Prosecutor’s Office.

Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano is bent on terminating the services of Cajardo even as he warned capitol employees that they would likely end up like the administrative aide.

He said the police were keeping an eye on other capitol employees on suspicion that they were into illegal drugs.

“Kon aduna paman gani dinhi sa kapitolyo nga naglambigit sa ginadiling druga. Karon dayon, pangundang na kamo sa inyong mga trabaho kay wala ako magkinahanglan ninyo. Kon dili kamo moundang sa inyong bisyo, panglayas kamo dinhi sa kapitolyo kay wala ako magkinahanglan sa inyong serbisyo nga inyong sagol sagolan ug binuang,” said Emano in a statement.

Cajardo, who serves as a watchman under the Provincial General Services Office (PGSO), was arrested while he was in a room at the old building that used to house the office of the Department of Public Works and Highways on Antonio Luna St. at around 6:45 pm Thursday.

Mulat said  Cajardo was caught in the act of inhaling suspected shabu while he was supposedly on duty.

Police said Cajardo yielded a sachet of suspected shabu and drug paraphernalia. Also seized from him were his cellphone and two identification cards.

Police credited Cajardo’s arrest to an informer.

Mulat said the initial information that the police received indicated that there were two persons using shabu inside the building.

“Pero pag-abot namu, isa lang siya didto. Kani lang si Cajardo nga naaktuhan gyud namu nga kamulong hithit,” said Mulat, adding she suspected that another evaded arrest.

Cajardo is facing the prospects of work termination and forfeiture of government benefits, said capitol spokesperson Nicole Managbanag.

Managbanag said Emano was angered after being informed that the Cajardo, who has been working at the capitol for five years, used a government facility near the provincial jail for an illegal activity.

But she said Emano welcomed the arrest, saying that the case would serve as an example of what would happen to capitol workers who are into illegal drugs.

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